In the life of a Priest: First week of 2013

Fr Andy from Burnham blogs for us about what life is like as a Parish Priest:

Chilled out at my aunt’s house in St Albans for a few days post-Christmas break, and caught up with my family. The aim of a priest’s post-Christmas break is to do as little as possible and rest, a goal which I was quite happy to attempt!

Back to the parish to say the Funeral Mass of a 50 year old man who died. The church was packed and thankfully the funeral went smoothly. I was able to speak a little about the experience of my own father dying suddenly when he was only 54, and I was 14. I remember being quite angry with God for a number of years, until my faith began to help me to see that there is a bigger picture, and that all things are well in God’s plan. Our own experiences of bereavement will, I believe, only serve to make the experience of heaven even sweeter when we are re-united with our loved ones.

Attended the Ordination of Christopher Perry and Wayne Coughlin, who were ordained priests for Northampton Diocese at St Joseph’s Church in Luton. Around twenty priests attended so it was a good opportunity to catch up with some of the other priests of the diocese who I hadn’t seen for a while. It was a lovely ordination and welcome Fr Christopher and Fr Wayne to the brotherhood of priests!

Went with Fr Simon to the cinema see The Hobbit. Enjoyed the book and enjoyed the film too – though I didn’t realise it was the first of three! So when Bilbo, Gandalf and the Dwarves were still miles from the Lonely Mountain and the film was two and a half hours in, I was beginning to wonder just how long it was going to go on for … and then it ended! Can’t wait for the next one!